Milk and/or soy protein intolerance (MSPI) describes a reaction to the PROTEINS (not lactose sugar) in milk and soy which damage the inside lining of the intestinal tract. The cause of this problem is not fully understood. Your child may be born with this intolerance or may aquire it later. It is also not the same thing as lactose intolerance in adults which is simply the inability to digest milk sugar (lactose) due to an enzyme deficiency. Babies with MSPI may also have a secondary intolerance to milk sugar as a result of intestinal damage already present. This intolerance to milk and soy PROTEIN is inhibited by a change in the cells or the gastrointestinal tract. Your child will probably outgrow this problem by late infancy or during the second year of life.

MSPI is diagnosed by a detailed history. Your child will be exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms: bloody stools, diarrhea with water loss, constipation, irritability (putting it mildly), weight loss or failure to gain, vomiting, appearing to be hungry all the time or refusal to eat at all. Eczema may also be the only symptom that a lot of kids with MSPI have. The doctor will question you as to the types of formula, if any, your infant has been on and how they reacted to each one. A description of the child's bowel movements is necessary. The doctor may elect to do an endoscopic examination. During this procedure, the doctor uses a lighted instrument to look into the small bowel and/or rectum. Damage (called colitis) is present if the lining is red, inflamed, or bleeding. Inflammatory changes may be noted on tissue samples obtained during this test. Less invasive testing can be done by obtaining a stool sample card to check for blood. It is the combination of the colitis with some of the symptoms listed previously which confirm the diagnosis of MSPI.

The treatment for MSPI is the removal of the offending milk and soy proteins when diagnosed. When diagnosed, most infants need to be on a strict milk and soy free diet until they are 9 to 24 months old. The best treatment is for mother to breastfeed and eliminate the proteins from her diet. Formulas which contain predigested proteins, such as Nutramigen, Alimentum, Pregestimil, Neocate, Tolerex, Vivonex Pediatric, or 3232A are utilized. (Approx 50% of these infants can tolerate one of these formulas. http://www.nutramed.com/digestion/ )

It is recommended that solid foods be delayed until the infant is 6 months old.

Please remember that we are all here to support each other! If you have any specific questions please feel free to post on the Food Allergies or Colic, Reflux, & Crying boards, or join us on the support thread 'Dear Diary - support thread for reflux/MSPI/food intolerance mummies - Part *' which can be found at the top of this the CRC board... http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=13.0****Check out the links below for some GREAT information, they are no longer stickied, but the link will take you right there!****